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IMPORTANT: This Advertiser has requested that applicants MUST be National Residents / Valid Work Permit-holders. Other applicants need not apply.
The Legal Researcher will be an integral member of the Biodiversity team and will provide legal research capacity for our project to use legal tools to better protect EU wildlife. The researcher will be involved in preparing internal briefs on various topics and supporting the development of public facing briefings and training materials on relevant legal issues.
About you
The successful candidate will have an excellent academic record in legal studies (to at least undergraduate level) with excellent written and verbal skills in English. You will be a highly organised, efficient worker able to handle a number of competing priorities. You will also have a demonstrable interest in environmental issues. You will have a professional and friendly manner and be able to establish good working relationships within the Biodiversity team, and with colleagues throughout the organisation.
About us
ClientEarth is a public interest environmental law group founded in 2007. We bring together law, science and policy to create practical solutions to key environmental challenges. Working in partnership with civil society and policymakers, ClientEarth is committed to securing the rights of citizens and civil society to participation, information and justice in environmental matters. In Europe and beyond, ClientEarth’s 75 strong staff includes legal experts qualified in more than nine jurisdictions based in offices in London, Brussels and Warsaw. Our programmes cover biodiversity and ecosystems, climate and energy, and health and environment.
Job description
The Legal Researcher will provide legal research support for the Biodiversity team’s EU and UK work.
Programme overview
The Biodiversity Programme aims to defend the interests of nature and the right of all people to a healthy natural environment by working on projects related to fisheries (working towards sustainable fisheries management), wildlife (defending species and habitats and ensuring sustainable land use) and water (protecting clean fresh water and healthy oceans).
Until last year the programme focused primarily on marine biodiversity because healthy oceans are essential for the functioning of both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Now we are building on the expertise we have developed to improve wildlife protection both in the oceans and on land. We are actively working to ensure the robust interpretation, implementation and enforcement of the EU conservation and fisheries legislation and to improve EU biodiversity law and policy.
Project overview
In the EU, there are serious threats facing iconic species such as wolves, bears and butterflies, and essential habitats such as grasslands, forests, rivers and lakes. Without better implementation of existing EU biodiversity conservation laws and coherence with other legislative instruments, the EU target of halting the loss of biodiversity across the EU by 2020 cannot be achieved. That would have potentially catastrophic consequences for the environment and society as a whole.
We will work to assess proposed changes and defend against any weakening of relevant legislation and we will start building the foundations of an EU biodiversity law advice centre that will provide conservation organisations and citizens with access to legal advice and information to help them address local biodiversity threats and non-compliance with EU law.
Working relationships
The position will be line-managed by the Wildlife Conservation Project Leader in the Biodiversity team. The Researcher will also work closely with other members of the biodiversity team in London, Warsaw and Brussels.
Job Responsibilities
The Legal Researcher will:
- Critically analyse laws, legislative proposals and policy proposals that will impact upon wildlife
- Conduct research and prepare internal briefs or databases on various topics required for the team’s work
- Support the development of legal briefings, training materials and training sessions on relevant legal issues
- Present internal updates on relevant caselaw e.g. at team meetings
- Monitor events at EU, international and national levels which are relevant to the work of the team
- Assist with providing legal advice on request to NGOs, EU institutions staff and individuals to achieve project objectives;
- Support the team in raising the public awareness about relevant legal issues through the organisation of events, trainings and printed materials and creating content for social media;
- As necessary, assist with the running of court cases including preparing court bundles and liaising with the court.
This list is not exhaustive and the selected candidate will be required to undertake other relevant tasks.
Experience and knowledge
The successful candidate will have:
- Undergraduate legal studies
- Knowledge of EU law and institutions
- An interest in environmental issues, especially biodiversity and conservation issues
- Experience of responding to competing deadlines and managing multiple tasks and priorities, ideally within a working environment
- Ideally, prior experience of working in a legal or legal research environment e.g. as a paralegal or researcher
- Ideally, knowledge of the EU Habitats Directive and the Common Agricultural Policy
- Ideally, familiarity with comparative legal analysis to enable easy access to laws and legal traditions in different countries
Competencies and skills
- Strong legal research and analytical skills and an interest in performing rigorous legal analysis in support of impactful work;
- Ability to grasp quickly and accurately new and complex concepts as well as scientific, technical and policy issues, and new areas of law;
- Demonstrated ability to explain complex legal issues in lay language and ability to modify language, content, and style to address the needs of different audiences
- Excellent organisational skills and efficient management of multiple tasks and priorities; able to work well under pressure
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Reliable and understands the importance of meeting deadlines
- Ability to think creatively
- Ability to work collaboratively within a small team but also to execute work independently and take the initiative when required
- Fluency in English (essential) and another European language (desirable)
- Excellent interpersonal and teamwork skills, with ability to foster positive working relationships with diverse internal and external individuals
- Strong computer skills (Microsoft suite – Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint)
Location
This position is based in London.
This role may require occasional travel within the EU, as the project requires.
Salary
The salary bracket for this role is between £23,000 and £27,000 depending on experience.
To apply
Please send us your CV and a cover letter explaining your interest in joining ClientEarth and the contribution you believe you could make to the organisation. Please make sure you demonstrate how you meet the essential criteria and competencies of the role.
Please include ‘Legal Researcher’ in the email subject line and identify the documents you are sending by including ‘[your name] Legal Researcher - cover letter’ and ‘[your name] Legal Researcher - CV’ in the file name.
Please address your application to:
Catherine Weller, Lawyer
ClientEarth, Fieldworks, 274 Richmond Road,
London E8 3QW, United Kingdom
or send it by email to:
jobs@clientearth.org
Recruitment is open now and you should send your application as soon as possible.
Applications close on 3 August 2015.
Interviews are intended to take place in the week commencing 9 August 2015.
Please note that ClientEarth will only consider candidates who have the legal right to work in the country where this post is based.
If you have any questions about the roles advertised or recruitment process, please contact Patricia Del Rio ( pdelrio@clientearth.org)
Equal Opportunities
ClientEarth aims to be an equal opportunity employer and is determined to ensure that no applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment.
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